Sri Lanka have been forced into a change in their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out with injury. Pacer Dilshan Madushanka has been officially cleared as his replacement.
Pathirana picked up a muscle strain during Sri Lanka’s Group B clash against Australia national cricket team on Monday in Pallekele, a match the hosts won by eight wickets. The setback occurred early in his spell, cutting short his involvement in the game.
Confirming the change, “The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Dilshan Madushanka as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana in the Sri Lanka squad,”the ICC said in a release.
The right-arm quick had bowled just three deliveries against Australia before discomfort forced him to stop. He was unable to complete the over, having previously featured in Sri Lanka’s matches against Ireland and Oman.
The injury is also a concern for his Indian Premier League franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders. The three-time champions invested INR 18 crore in Pathirana. With
Mustafizur Rahman already released and Harshit Rana facing uncertainty for IPL 2026, the latest setback compounds their pace-bowling worries.
The incident unfolded when he delivered a ball to Australia captain Mitchell Marsh and immediately clutched his left leg in visible pain. Although early commentary suggested a hamstring issue, it was later confirmed as a muscle strain. The team physio rushed out, but Pathirana had to be assisted off the field, with Dasun Shanaka completing the remaining deliveries of the over.
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